Repeat Prescriptions

We are able to supply your medication at the main surgery after your consultation. We also dispense your ‘Repeat’ items. If you have difficulties getting to the surgery to collect medication please ask about our drop off points - a courtesy service we offer if there is no other means of receiving your medication.

Which items are authorised for repeat prescriptions?

Each repeat prescription has a printed list of medicines. This is a list of the medicines which the doctor has authorised for you to receive by repeat prescription request.

If an item is NOT on the printed list it has NOT been authorised by a doctor for repeat prescription. If you think that the item is missing from the list, please notify us in writing, by phone or by fax. You can order your repeat prescription directly through this site. Click on the link above and complete the simple registration form.

Items which have not been requested for more than one year will not normally be issued without an appointment with a doctor. This is for your safety to check that the medication is still appropriate for your needs.

Antibiotics are not normally issued on repeat prescription. You will usually be expected to see a doctor before receiving antibiotics.

How do i submit a repeat prescription request?

Hand your slip back to the dispensary when collecting your medication, ticking the items you require for the following month and write the date you wish to collect them. Alternatively you can call the surgery and ask the receptionist to order the medication you need, post your repeat request to us, send us a fax or order online (speak to reception regarding online ordering).

When the surgery is closed you can put the slip through the letter box marked prescription at the back door. If you have lost your repeat slip either phone and order your medication or ask the dispensary to print of another slip. You are not able to request a printed repeat slip for any patient other than yourself.

When will the medication be ready?

Medication will usually be ready for collection from the dispensary 2 working days after the prescription request has been received. If there is an unexpected delay, you will be informed. If this is a problem, you can collect your prescription to take to the chemist.

For urgent prescription requests call the surgery.

When Should I Make my Repeat Prescription Request?

Please allow at least 2 full working days as we do not carry every item in stock. Therefore if our suppliers have difficulties there will be a delay. Remember that we are dispensing urgent items during clinics throughout the day.

Collecting Medication

You may collect medication from Milton Abbas Surgery between 08:30 - 13:00and 14:30 - 18:00 Mon, Weds, Thurs & Fri. The dispensary is also open on a Saturday between 8:30 - 10:30 and until 7pm on a Tuesday. This is subject to change and you should usually check the website for any changes. Please note the dispensary is closed 13:00 - 14:30 everyday

Changes To Your Medication

If you have any problems, please call the surgery and if necessary make an appointment to see a doctor.

Sometimes a doctor at one of the hospitals will advise you that your medication and/or dosage should change. Since notification of these changes may take some time to reach us, please ask the doctor at the hospital for a note to confirm these changes and attach this to your repeat request. This will help the dispensary to process your request, if the surgery does not have this information it may cause a delay.

Extra Supplies Of Medication

If you think that you will need an extra supply, for example if you are going on holiday, please attach an explanatory note to your request.

We cannot guarantee that extra medication will be dispensed without a consultation with a doctor so please allow plenty of time for these requests to be processed.

All prescriptions have to be paid for at the time of collection and the declaration on the back of the form completed, dated and signed.

Medication Reviews

The doctor or nurse will need to review your medication regularly, and the due date is on your repeat slip. Please call the surgery and arrange an appointment near your review date. For some medications we may issue a prescription to cover you for a short period but you must have your review booked. If you think your review date is wrong please contact the surgery.

Telephoning The Dispenser

If you need to speak to a dispenser call the surgery and the receptionist will put your details on a call back list. A dispenser will return your call usually within an hour.

Waste Medication

Please return unused medication to the main surgery for safe disposal.

Prescriptions Charges and Exemptions

The NHS prescription charge is a flat-rate amount which successive Governments have thought it reasonable to charge for those who can afford to pay for their medicines. Prescription prepayment certificates (PPCs) offer real savings for people who need extensive medication.

NHS charges

These charges apply in England only. In Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales prescriptions are free of charge.

Prescription (per item): £8.05.

12-month prepayment certificate (PPC): £105.00

3-month PPC: £29.10

If you will have to pay for four or more prescription items in three months, or more than 14 items in 12 months, you may find it cheaper to buy a PPC.

If you would like your medication delivered please let the dispensary know.

We cannot guarantee a delivery time, if you are not home when our driver calls you may be required to collect your medication from the surgery.

Urgent Medication - Out Of Hours

If you run out of prescribed medication and you need it urgently when the surgery is closed, call the NHS non emergency line on 111.

Some medications can be bought from out of hours pharmacies.

A Day in the Dispensary

Following our 2013/14 Patient Survey our dispensing team have put together ‘A day in the Dispensary’ to give our patients an idea of their daily routine.

Morning & Afternoon

Dispensing medication ordered the day before.

Dispensing ‘acute’ medication (urgent prescriptions from same day appointments)

Unpacking medication deliveries

Checking and packing repeat medication

Filing completed prescriptions ready for collection at Milton Abbas or in the appropriate delivery boxes.

Calling patients back who have requested to speak with a dispenser

Sorting out general queries from patients

Giving out medication at the dispensary reception

Sending and receiving messages from GP

When we are closed between 1-2.30pm

This time is not used as a lunch break as many patients assume. It is really important that we have this time to catch up.

Putting all the repeat medication requests on the computer (some days this can be over 120 requests each of which can have 1 – 15 items on them)

Printing off all of the repeat medication requests which will produce an FP10 – (The green paper slip) and a new repeat slip. This also produces labels for all the medication ordered. We match up labels to prescription, and sort alphabetically.

We then order all the medication needed to dispense the repeat medication.

We are now dispensing approximately 6,500 items per month which means we roughly dispense at least 325 items per day between Monday and Friday

We also deliver around 150 bags of medication to patient’s houses per month

Some processes can take longer than others

E.G. If the item has to be signed by a Doctor when they are in the middle of seeing patients

All items requested which are not on repeat, we will have to request from the Doctor. This will of course take a little longer than an item that is already on repeat.